The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-04
THE DIAMOND OF THE GULF.
A Floridian Garden Spot of Wondrous
Beauty and Fertility.
Orange Hill and the Indianapolis People Who
Have Invested There-Tropical Luxuri-
ance, with Balmy Breezas and ABB
sence Of Insect Pests.

The school history tells US that Ponce de Leon
discovered Florida and named it. That was in
1872 three hund red and seventy-ive years ago.
It remained for number of Indianians TO dis
cover, or at least to give to the world, the most
beautiful spot III Florida. Had Ponce de Leon,
who in search of the fountain of perpetual
youth, found Orange Hill. these Hoosiers are
prepared to say that he would be alive and well
at this day.
Mr.. NJ. VI. Lands and W. B. Allen. of this
city, have just returned from there, and are full
of its praise. Orange Hill, in Washington
county. Florida. is about six miles south of the
railroad town OF Chipley, on the Pensacola d
Atlantic railroad. Its peculiar attractions are
great elevation, picturesque scenery, diversified
timber, healthful atmosphere, and pure water. It
is from 300 feet to 500 feet aoove the gulf.
and from 200 to 300 feet above the
rounding country. 1t is twenty three miles from
the gulf and forty two from ST. Andrews bav.
As to elevation, there are points on Orange Hill
from which Alabama, sixty-fye miles distant,
NAV De seen.
The quality of the soil is shown by the divers
ity of the timber. At the late Indiana State
fair sixty-three different varieties of timber
grown on Orange Hill were shown by Mr. r. Ia.
Scarlet, and many more kinds We're to be had.
Red oak trees found there measuring from
i've TO fifteen fee. IN circumference; the water
oak, evergreen measures from five to ten
feet and magnolias from five to ten. Grand av
Orange Hill is lined with magnificent
water oaks, planted fifty years ago This ave-
nue. is seventy feet wide and in beauty has no
equal nywhere. The whole hill has been plat
ted into and five-acre tracts-one acre for
building purposes, and five acres for fruits and
vegetables-with avenues from fifty to seventy
feet wide between. The fruits now raised
there consist of pears, figs, peaches. apples.
pomegranates, mulberries, persimmons, grapes.
raspberries. strawberries blackberres, etc. and
every variety of vegetables. In February OF
last year strawberries were shipped from this
iocallty to Southern market, where they
brought 81 a quart. There is endless divers
ity of flowers, many of which bloom perpetually
throughout the year.
Orange Hill, one of the most charming spots
in the universe. sometimes called the Eden OF
Florida, is noted a health resort and IS spe
clally commended to persons troubled with lung
affections, asthma, rheumatism, catarrh, hay
fever and kindred diseases. 1t is the hunters
paradise. Deer and wild turkeys, well
quails, squirrels and other game are plenty. The
adjacent lakes abound in fish of superior flavor.
While q winter resort, it is also pre-eminent-
ly summer resort No day last summer did
the thermometer rise above 81 degrees. The aver
age temperature during June. July and August
Is 81 IN the heat of the day while the nights are
cool and delightful The absence of insects is
notable fact There are few house flies and alb
solutely no mosquitoes. There is now a move
ment On foot to erect q commodious hotel on the
hill for sightseeing tourists and invalids.
Springs of the purest free-stone water abound,
and the fact that most of the varieties of trees
found In Indiana are to be found at Orange
Hill all the assurance that any need want as
to the vigor of the soil, which is a rich. sandy
loan, wholly unlike the usual Florida soil.
Among the Indianapolis people who have in
vested in land at Orange Hill, most OF whom
have been there and enth usiastic in their
praise, are James G. Kingsbury. editor of the
Indiana Farmer; John T. Brush, resident part
ner of the When clothing store; Fl. T. Condo,
dealer in agricultural implements; Theo Pfaff1in,
Fl. II. McGaffey. Fred. G.. Weislogel. T. a.
Lloyd. c. A. Baggerly, George A. Danley A.
q. Chandler Joseph w. Sherwood. John NJ.
Shaw, of Kingan &c Co.; w. 81. Elvin, of the Bow
en-Merrill book-house; W. B. Hoton, of Bradley.
Hoiton & Co.; Frederick w. Chislett. super
intendent of Crown Hill Cemetery; w. B. AL
len, of W. B. Allen & Co., Wholesale lumber
and coal; Garland R. Stewart of the Stewart
Coal and Mining Company. Rev. George S. V.
Howard. of Xenia, Ind, and DR.. Potter, of
Springfield. o., also among the lot owners.
Mr.. r. l.. Scarlett, formerly of this city, now
of Orange Hill, will be in Indianapolis few
weeks, and any one desiring home in the Eden
of Florida. obtain all desired information of
him. He is stopping at the Grand Hotel